Supplications for beneficial knowledge, from the Qur-an and Sunnah, with sources.
Islam ties knowledge to benefit and action. These supplications ask for exactly that. The single verse the Qur-an gives – “Rabbi zidni ilma” – is the simplest and best-established.
Key points
- The Qur-an teaches the single most concise dua for a student: "Rabbi zidni ilma".
- What is asked for is knowledge that benefits and is acted upon - not knowledge for its own sake.
- "Beneficial knowledge, good provision, accepted deeds" is a complete daily request reported after Fajr.
Practical steps
- Before studying, say "Rabbi zidni ilma".
- After Fajr, add "Allahumma inni as'aluka ilman nafi'an...".
- When you sit to learn or teach, say "Allahumma-nfa'ni bima allamtani...".
- Act on what you learn - this is what makes knowledge "beneficial".
Qur’an
...wa qul Rabbi zidni 'ilma.
“So high [above all] is Allah, the Sovereign, the Truth. And, [O Muhammad], do not hasten with [recitation of] the Qur'an before its revelation is completed to you, and say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge."”
Surah Ta Ha — 20:114
When to read: Allah instructs the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself in this verse to ask "My Lord, increase me in knowledge." The phrase "Rabbi zidni ilma" is recited on its own by students of knowledge.
Hadith
Allahumma inni as'aluka 'ilman nafi'an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa 'amalan mutaqabbala.
O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, good provision, and deeds that are accepted.
Sunan Ibn Majah, no. 925 — graded sahih by al-Albani.
When to read: Umm Salamah reported the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying this after the Subh (Fajr) prayer, on giving the salam.
Allahumma-nfa'ni bima 'allamtani, wa 'allimni ma yanfa'uni, wa zidni 'ilma, wa l-hamdu lillahi 'ala kulli hal, wa a'udhu billahi min 'adhabi n-nar.
O Allah, benefit me by what You have taught me, teach me what will benefit me, and increase me in knowledge. All praise is Allah's in every state, and I seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of the Fire.
Sunan Ibn Majah, no. 3833 .
When to read: Graded sahih by al-Albani; some scholars (Shuayb al-Arnaut, Zubair Ali Zai) considered its chain weak. Said when sitting to study or teach.
Hadith text and grading above are shown as supplied by their source. HikmahBridge does not grade Hadith itself. See Sources & Methodology.
FAQ
Is there a dua for when a subject feels too hard?
A supplication commonly recited is "Allahumma la sahla illa ma ja'altahu sahla" ("O Allah, nothing is easy except what You make easy"). It is reported in Ibn Hibban and other collections outside the six books; treat it as a supplication whose meaning is sound rather than a saying with the strongest chain.
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